Southwest Area Road & Traffic Working Group

The Southwest Area Road and Traffic Working Group, made up of a variety of residents, business owners and interested parties is exploring and discussing options for improving traffic flow in a section of Johnston near NW 54th Avenue east of NW 86th Street. A series of meetings, moderated by an outside facilitator, have taken place to discuss issues in the area such as speed, safe school crossings, access to undeveloped properties, emergency access and traffic circulation.

At the July 17, 2017 City Council Work Session meeting facilitator, Tamara Kenworthy, with On Point Strategies, and engineering consultant, Mark Perington, with Snyder and Associates, presented the city council on the results of the studies and discussions of the SW Area Traffic Working Group. Their presentation is available here. No formal action was taken by the City Council at this meeting. As the Council moves forward with any action steps related to this issue, those action items would be scheduled on a regular City Council agenda, with notice provided and an opportunity provided for public comments.

As a follow-up to the discussion that occurred amongst the Working Group in the Fall of 2016 and Spring of 2017, the City Council contracted Snyder and Associates to conduct two follow up studies in the area. These studies were conducted to determine the traffic pattern changes that might have occurred in the area as a result of the relocation of the Johnston High School which occurred in August 2017. The first follow up study included a speed/volume study of NW 54th Avenue and Foxboro Road, the summary memo and findings from this study are available here (PDF). The second follow up study included an origin/destination study of Foxboro Road to determine the amount of through traffic using Foxboro Road, the summary memo and findings from this study are available here (PDF). Additionally, on February 6, 2018, the City Council approved a contract with Snyder and Associates to prepare conceptual plans and cost estimates for NW 54th Avenue “Road Diet.” This study will explore improving pedestrian access, crossings and safety for the area generally between Foxboro Road and the entrance to Timber Ridge Elementary School. The need for this type of analysis was discussed during the Working Group discussion. Additional information about this study will be forthcoming as the project progresses.

Third party traffic engineer from Snyder and Associates, Mark Perington compiled this report (PDF) on traffic issues at the last meeting in the area. On March 30, 2017 this presentation was presented.

Following the May 2, 2017 SW Area Traffic Working Group meeting, the City Council Working Group members requested some follow-up information pertaining to issues/questions raised during the working group meetings. Snyder and Associates responses to those inquiries are included in this June 1, 2017 memo (PDF).

A Working Group Meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, July 9, 2018 at Johnston City Hall. A meeting agenda/materials are available here (PDF).